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Summit unites reemerging U.S. hemp industry around innovation, best practice
Institute for Advanced Learning and Research using collaboration and science as it leads the growing industry to a sustainable future
The new era of reduced hemp regulation has seen the versatile plant skyrocketing in popularity in a myriad of industrial uses. But the hemp industry itself is still effectively in its infancy and has
experienced growing pains. Helping this industry mature around science, sound business principles, and high standards is a primary focus of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and the Southeast Hemp Association. Their signature event, the annual Industrial Hemp Summit, was held virtually this week.
“Building the U.S. Industrial Hemp Industry is like putting together a 5,000-piece puzzle blindfolded and with the pieces constantly shifting,” said Marty Clemons, Board Chair, Southeast Hemp Association. “It is imperative that we collaborate in a professional and transparent manner to create a sustainable industry.“
With the theme of One Industry United, the fourth annual Industrial Hemp Summit was held Feb. 22-23 with a focus specifically on building the supply chain and market creation for industrial hemp food, fiber and flower. Approximately 230 participants representing 28 states and Canada attended the fast-paced, high-quality, two-day event with live access to sessions, the opportunity to participate in Q&A chats with expert speakers, and the chance to engage in potential virtual networking opportunities. Previous events were held in person at IALR, and plans are to return to an in-person event in 2022.
“The summit highlighted innovation in the industry, as well as the resources and infrastructure necessary to move the industry forward,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director of the IALR. “We have always prided ourselves on the quality of the speakers and the panelists that we’ve engaged. This year, while virtual, was no exception.”
A multitude of leaders and experts in the hemp industry served as panelists and speakers, including Chase Hubard, Eric Steenstra, Erin Williams, Rod Kight, Volker Bornemann, and Rebecca Hobden. Topics ranged from financing, state regulations, legal policy, genetics and testing to market opportunities and general industry analyses.
IALR Executive Director Mark Gignac and the Southeast Hemp Association’s Board Chairman Marty Clemons and Executive Director Blake Butler partnered to host the summit.
IALR to Host First Hemp Grower Expo in 2020
Growers to Connect with Vendors, Attend Sessions to Prepare for Next Growing Season
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is pleased to announce the region’s first event focused specifically on meeting the needs of area hemp growers. The 2020 Hemp Grower Expo, to be held Tuesday, Jan. 28 at IALR, will allow producers to network with peers, connect with providers of hemp seeds and clones, and discuss ways to successfully prepare for the next growing season.
“We are a tool for our community to thrive and grow, and one of the important audiences we serve is growers, especially since agriculture remains Virginia’s largest private industry,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director of IALR. “While hemp is an exciting opportunity for diversification, as an emerging industry, there are still many guidelines and best practices to work through. We look forward to offering this platform for growers to openly discuss challenges and solutions and to connect with hemp seed and clone providers.”
The 2020 Hemp Grower Expo will occur from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Jan. 28. The agenda will feature a networking and exhibit showroom of hemp seed and clone providers the entire duration of the expo. From 11 a.m.-noon, IALR’s own Yimeng “Jack” He, Analytical Chemist, will present “Unraveling the Mysteries of Hemp Testing.” His remarks will address the testing process and the six causatives IALR has identified regarding lab-to-lab discrepancies. Gignac will also discuss the ways IALR is using its research assets and expertise to help inform guidelines and best practices moving forward as consensus methodology is developed for hemp testing.
The expo will include a lunch buffet and a second session where attending growers will be invited to participate in open dialogue about lessons learned from the first growing season and how to apply them to next year. Advance registration is required. Tickets are $35 for growers and must be secured online by Jan. 21 at bit.ly/2020-hemp-grower.
Exhibitor booths are available for approved providers of hemp seeds and clones. The vendor fee of $500 includes a 10- by 8-foot booth, pipe and drape for a professional experience, booth signage, one eight-foot table with linen and skirting and two chairs. Online vendor preregistration is required by Jan. 10. To preregister, vendors should complete the form at bit.ly/preregisterhempexpo.
For questions about the expo, please contact IALR Lab Research Associate Samantha Smith-Herndon at samantha.smith@ialr.org or 434.766.6622
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) helps lead the region’s emerging hemp industry by offering elite analytical testing services, informative hemp-related programming and research to help foster uniform guidelines and practices. IALR also hosts the annual Industrial Hemp Summit, a multi-stakeholder event helping to build the hemp industry in the U.S. More information on the summit, to be held Feb. 24-25, is available at industrialhempsummit.info.
West Town Bank & Trust Named Sponsor for Industrial Hemp Summit 2020
The Industrial Hemp Summit is pleased to announce West Town Bank & Trust as a Supporting Sponsor for the 2020 event. Founded in 1922, the bank has built a hemp program uniquely tailored to the challenges of hemp-related businesses. In North Carolina they have loan production offices in Edenton, Morehead City and Raleigh.
Melissa Marsal, West Town Bank & Trust Chief Operating Officer, recently said, “Some banks are not willing to bank hemp customers. At West Town Bank & Trust, we don’t just bank hemp, we embrace it. If you need a bank that understands your needs and your industry, we’re ready to help you bank hemp safely.”
The Feb. 24-25, 2020, event will be hosted once again by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR). It focuses on convening multiple stakeholders to build the industrial hemp industry in the United States through development of a supply chain and market-making for industrial hemp food, fiber and flower. The Summit will highlight current innovation in the industry, as well as explore what resources and infrastructure are needed to move the industry forward. Industrial hemp is used to make a variety of commercial and industrial products, including health and natural food products, supplements, skin products, clothing, bioplastics, insulation, biofuel and more. Thanks to December’s federal legislation, U.S. growers, processors and others may now consider entering this versatile market as an opportunity for diversification.
“We are very excited to welcome West Town Bank & Trust as one of our Supporting Sponsors for the 2020 Industrial Hemp Summit,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director of IALR. “Financial solutions are paramount to today’s growers and processors, and we appreciate their support of this growing industry.”
The Industrial Hemp Summit has traditionally ranked as a sell-out event. The 2019 summit sold out with more than 200 on the waiting list. Stakeholders from 18 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and the U.S attended, including investors, economic developers, tobacco companies, entrepreneurs, medical companies and others interested in advancing the U.S. industrial hemp market. Maximum attendance will be increased for the 2020 summit. Interested attendees are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to ensure a seat.
The 2020 agenda is in development and will feature speakers and topics of the same caliber as the 2019 event. Panelists for the 2019 summit included a multitude of bioscience experts and can be viewed at www.industrialhempsummit.info/2019.
To register, visit www.industrialhempsummit.info. Tickets are $250, and admission for the Monday night reception only is $50. For questions or more information, please contact (434) 766-6605 or info@industrialhempsummit.info.
West Town Bank & Trust is a division of West Town Bancorp Inc., a Raleigh, N.C.-based multi-bank holding company. Visit www.westtownbank.com to learn about their personal, business, insurance and lending services, including USDA lending.
PHOTOS from the 2019 Industrial Hemp Summit:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskP7qXji
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmBodG3J
